ChEnected Posts by Francis Petrocelli

What’s a hydrogel? How do chemical engineers design mixers for viscous fluids such as chocolate? These and other questions were answered at the AIChE-sponsored booth at the recent 3rd USA Science and Engineering Festival (USASEF) in Washington, D.C.

This year, 47 high school students eager to learn more about chemical engineering took part in AIChE’s Outreach in Action event at the Annual Meeting in San Francisco.

On Sunday, October 28th, a group of 27 students from several Pittsburgh-area high schools learned more about chocolate, and chemical engineering, at an outreach event organized by AIChE’s Societal Impact Operating Council (SIOC).

On Sunday, October 28th, as part of the 2012 Annual Meeting, AIChE will be sponsoring an educational outreach event for local high school students from the Pittsburgh area. Learn how to volunteer!

How do we, as chemical engineers, inspire the next generation that will follow in our footsteps? Tulsa has two great examples: the High School Chem-E-Car competition and the Chemical Switch competition.

During AIChE’s Spring Meeting in Houston, TX, eight meeting attendees visited Booker T. Washington High School to speak with students about chemical engineering. Booker T. Washington is a magnet school for the engineering professions in the Houston Independent School District.

For the past several years, the Susquehanna AIChE chapter has sponsored a shadow program for high school students at a handful of local businesses. One of the most active programs has been at The Hershey Company (THC). Each spring, a number of engineers at THC have been involved with a half-day shadow program that involves exposing four to six high school students to chemical engineering.

The “What in the World” (WITW) program for fifth and sixth graders was started in 1996 by the Lancaster and Lebanon (PA) Science and Technology Alliance (LLSTA). I have personally been involved with it for the last five years. This vocational program is designed to help students understand why they need to study and do well in math and science.

AIChE, through its Societal Impact Operating Council (SIOC), wants to establish a community of its members who are interested in using K-12 outreach as a way to spread the message about the positive impact that chemical engineers have on society, and about the great career opportunities that exist in our profession.